Ordered two- and three-dimensional structures of amphiphilic molecules

Abstract

The invention pertains, at least in part, to a method for forming an ordered structure of amphiphilic molecules, such as proteins. The method includes contacting a population of amphiphilic molecules with a interface; compressing said population laterally to an appropriate pressure, such that an ordered structure at the interface is formed. The invention also pertains to the two- and three-dimensional ordered structures that are formed using the planar membrane compression method of the invention.

1 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for determining the shape of an amphiphilic molecule, comprising
 contacting a population of said molecule with a interface;   compressing said population to an appropriate pressure, such that an ordered structure is formed at said interface, and   analyzing said ordered structure such that the shape of said amphiphilic molecule is determined.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said population of amphiphilic molecules comprises proteins, glycoproteins, glycolipids, or steroids. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein each of said proteins is a membrane protein, a cellular receptor, an orphan receptor, receptor tyrosine kinase, an EPH receptor, an ion channel, a cytokine receptor, an multisubunit immune recognition receptor, a chemokine receptor, a growth factor receptor, or a G-protein coupled receptor. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said ordered structure is two-dimensional. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said shape is determined by electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said electromagnetic radiation is selected from the group consisting of light, electrons, x-rays, neutrons, or gamma rays. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said shape is determined by fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy, x-ray crystallography, or electron crystallography. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method for screening a test compound, comprising:
 contacting said test compound with an ordered structure; and   analyzing the results of the interaction of said test compound and the ordered structure, such that said test compound is screened.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said ordered structure is mounted on a solid support. 
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said ordered structure comprises a membrane protein, a cellular receptor, an orphan receptor, receptor tyrosine kinase, an EPH receptor, an ion channel, a cytokine receptor, an multisubunit immune recognition receptor, a chemokine receptor, a growth factor receptor, or a G-protein coupled receptor. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said test compound is an agonist, antagonist, inhibitor, or activator. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said analysis comprises analyzing a shape change of said protein. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said shape changes corresponds to the multimerization of said membrane protein with itself or with other membrane proteins. 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A protein chip, comprising a solid support and at least one ordered structure of an amphiphilic molecules. 
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . The protein chip of  claim 49 , wherein said amphiphilic molecule is a membrane protein, a cellular receptor, an orphan receptor, receptor tyrosine kinase, an EPH receptor, an ion channel, a cytokine receptor, an multisubunit immune recognition receptor, a chemokine receptor, a growth factor receptor, or a G-protein coupled receptor. 
     
     
         52 . The protein chip of  claim 49 , wherein said protein chip comprises two or more ordered structures. 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . The protein chip of  claim 49 , wherein said ordered structure is fabricated by planar membrane compression. 
     
     
         55 .- 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . A method for determining the structure of a protein, comprising:
 expressing said protein in a cell;   obtaining said protein from said cell;   applying said protein to an interface;   compressing said protein on said interface to an appropriate pressure, such that an ordered structure of said protein is formed; and   analyzing said ordered structure such that the structure of said protein is determined.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein said protein is a membrane protein, a cellular receptor, an orphan receptor, receptor tyrosine kinase, an EPH receptor, an ion channel, a cytokine receptor, an multisubunit immune recognition receptor, a chemokine receptor, a growth factor receptor, or a G-protein coupled receptor. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the structure of said protein is determined using diffraction by electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . The protein chip of  claim 52 , comprising a plurality of ordered structures in discrete wells, wherein said ordered structures are fabricated by planar membrane compression.